“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,”
Psalm 103:2 ESV
Remembering is a vehicle that can take you to many faraway places in your mind. Some of those places can be joyful destinations, and some can be sorrowful stops. Recently, I have been visiting my memories of days gone by. This has been brought on by some significant changes in my life.
Only a couple of days ago, I dropped my middle son off at college, eight and a half hours away. The week before, I said goodbye to my oldest son as he also moved eight and a half hours away. As I departed the college campus, I turned and looked at my daughter in the back seat of the car, and I thought about how I only have two years before I repeat the process.
As I have had to prepare for this, I remembered the days gone by, from diapers and sleepless nights to years preparing for school events and tests that would happen. I began to ponder the past and looked at the present, realizing the speed of the days gone by was dizzying. “How did I arrive at this moment so quickly?” I am sure I was just tying shoes or picking up Legos just the other day.
Even at every milestone I stopped at in my memory, I could see the faithfulness of the LORD and how He has sustained me through every minute and mile. I began to remember the days of feeling fearful as I became a new mother and felt so inadequate to do the great work that lay ahead of me. As I felt that way, I remembered seeking the LORD and asking for help. He answered me and taught me how to follow Him. By the reading of His Word and surrounding myself with other believers who had taken the journey before me, I began to receive the instruction I needed. I thought about the trials and struggles that I had experienced and remembered how He provided all that I needed and how He has always been faithful to give me what I needed both physically and spiritually.
In Psalms 103, David is writing of “The Forgiving God”. As he remembers God’s provision and instruction, let us soak in what these verses are saying:
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!” (Psalm 103:1-22 ESV)
As we read the remembrance of God’s steadfast love and His great forgiveness, it is humbling to realize. In all the days I have walked this earth, He has never left me, nor will He leave you. In the highest highs and lowest lows, He has remained faithful! I have had days of difficulty in my earthly journey as a mother that have been overwhelming and times that have been filled with joy. Through every moment, His love and mercy have guided me.
He has expressed such kindness to us in our humanity. By the forgiveness that He offers and the mercy of His sacrifice, we can obtain access to freedom, and we can be made whole to walk in communion with Him. It is a gift that we cannot earn. Yet, it can only be received when we surrender our lives into His hands, asking for forgiveness and believing that He is the only way (read John 14:6). As I chose to surrender my life to Him many years ago, I can see God’s love and care throughout the many miles I have traveled. Even though I am not a perfect mother or person. When I have messed up, His grace has been sufficient.
There will be days ahead that I will continue to face uncertainties, and I will need Him in every single one. He has remained faithful, and He will continue to be. I will remember Him and His acts of faithful love and praise Him on the journey.
Amanda Patterson
Lean into Jesus Ministries
#amandapattersonblogs